Emerging Markets News and Headlines
Emerging Markets News and Headlines
Emerging Markets Pulse
EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
EMAIL DIGESTS
Daily
Every morning
Weekly
Tuesday recap
Ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains virtually halted four weeks into the Iran‑Israel conflict, with only six vessels recorded on March 26 versus the pre‑war average of nearly 60 daily transits in 2025. Iran announced a toll system demanding up to $2 million per passage and warned that ships from "hostile" nations would be barred. Despite the proposed fees, the waterway’s effective closure is deepening a global oil supply shortfall and pushing fuel prices higher. A Greek tanker operator has managed a few transits, but overall movement stays minimal.
Europe has cut Russian gas imports by 90% since 2021 and aims to end them by November 2027. To replace the lost volume, the continent now relies on LNG, exposing it to global shipping chokepoints. The Eastern Mediterranean basin, with...
The government amended Press Note 3 of 2020 to define beneficial ownership for investors from countries sharing a land border with India, allowing them up to 10% equity via the automatic route and a 60‑day approval window. Foreign direct investment reached a...
At the Future Investment Initiative in Miami, WTTC Chairman Manfredi Lefebvre warned that Latin America’s trillion‑dollar growth prospects depend on fixing chronic infrastructure gaps. The council estimates the region must invest about $150 billion each year—roughly 2.4 % of GDP—to close shortfalls...
Fitch reaffirmed Israel’s sovereign credit rating at A with a negative outlook on March 27, 2026, citing escalating war costs and fiscal strain. The agency highlighted that the ongoing Operation Lion’s Roar and northern front clashes forced Israel to exceed its budget...
Rathbones Asset Management launched the Rathbone Sicav Global Emerging Markets Equity fund, expanding its Luxembourg‑based SICAV platform. Managed by former GAM professionals Tim Love and Joaquim Nogueira, the active fund will hold 80‑120 stocks, using bottom‑up selection and top‑down screens...
China’s 15th Five‑Year Plan (2026‑2030) places AI and cybersecurity at the core of its strategy to become a global tech superpower. The plan accelerates deployment of Chinese AI models, especially open‑source offerings like DeepSeek R‑1, while embedding strict information‑control mandates aligned...
China’s State Administration for Market Regulation urged major exporters such as BYD and CATL to adopt healthier, fair‑competition practices as they expand abroad. The regulator highlighted the need to curb “involution‑style” competition that squeezes margins and forces costly overseas moves....
From March 24‑27, Boao’s Dongyu Island Cultural Park hosted the “Boao: Where the World Meets, Qionghai: Where Free Trade Thrives” city exhibition, the first showcase since Hainan Free Trade Port’s island‑wide customs launch. The event highlighted Qionghai’s role as a...
Russia’s banks were cut off from the SWIFT network in 2022, prompting the country to rely on its domestic messaging system, SPFS. While SPFS kept internal payments flowing and softened the immediate shock, it did not replicate SWIFT’s global reach,...
HSBC’s latest Emerging Markets Sentiment Survey shows optimism reaching a record high, with 68% of investors bullish on EM assets over the next three months, up from 63% previously. The survey recorded zero bearish responses, marking the 14th consecutive reading...
The Bloomberg Next Africa podcast warns that the war in Iran could trigger a farming crisis across the continent. Iran supplies a large share of the world’s nitrogen‑based fertilizers, and conflict threatens to choke off those exports. African growers, already...
China’s recent Two Sessions underscored technology as the cornerstone of its economic strategy, signaling a shift from a purely top‑down innovation model to a “platform state” approach. In this model, the government acts like a digital platform, shaping market rules...
India is moving to revive its energy partnership with Russia, negotiating a direct LNG supply deal despite the risk of violating Western sanctions. The talks follow a recent surge in Russian crude purchases, which could rise to 40% of India’s...
AIA’s group chief investment officer Mark Konyn discussed how Asia’s financial ecosystem has accelerated change over his three‑decade career. He highlighted how regional crises—from the 1997 Asian financial crisis to the COVID‑19 pandemic—reshaped risk management and regulatory frameworks. Konyn emphasized China’s...
Indonesia signed the U.S. Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART) on Feb. 19, 2026, obligating Jakarta to align its domestic regulations with Washington’s security agenda. The pact challenges Indonesia’s long‑standing “free and active” foreign‑policy doctrine and threatens ASEAN’s reputation as a neutral,...
Progress on Iraq’s Akkas gas field development has stalled as security concerns tied to the US‑Israel war with Iran forced the evacuation of SLB’s foreign staff. The U.S.‑based contractor was hired in July 2025 to lift output to an initial...
The Strait of Hormuz shutdown threatens Japan’s aluminum supply chain, as the country imports roughly 20% of its metal from the Middle East. The closure disrupts shipments of primary ingots that feed industries ranging from beverage cans to bullet‑train components....
The New York Times uncovered that Binance’s vendor Blessed Trust moved roughly $1.2 billion through the exchange, ultimately reaching entities tied to Iran. Internal compliance investigators later identified an additional $1.7 billion in sanction‑evading transfers, but Binance only severed ties with Blessed Trust in...
Latin America and the Caribbean host 533 data centers, but five countries—Brazil, Chile, Mexico, Argentina, and Colombia—account for roughly 80% of the total. Brazil leads with 204 facilities and expects $37 billion from TikTok’s upcoming Pecém hub, while Chile and Mexico...
Private equity fundraising in the Middle East is entering a boom, with capital commitments reaching multi‑billion‑dollar levels. Sovereign wealth funds and regional investors are increasingly favoring general partners who demonstrate deep, long‑term commitment to the market. The region’s regulatory reforms...
The United Arab Emirates is fast‑tracking a new trade corridor that connects its eastern Khorfakkan port in Sharjah to Saudi Arabia’s Dammam, allowing cargo to bypass the Strait of Hormuz. The corridor combines maritime access via the Gulf of Oman...
Oil prices surged above $100 a barrel after the United States and Israel attacked Iran, prompting Tehran to close the Strait of Hormuz, which carries roughly 20% of global oil. The disruption has sent fuel costs soaring across Africa, prompting...
Rosatom and Brazil's private holding NBEPar have created a joint venture, Nadina Minerals, to extract and process critical minerals in Brazil. The JV will focus on uranium and other high‑technology metals, targeting deposits in Paraná's Figueira region and Bahia's Caculé....
The Philippines is entering a belt‑tightening phase as a four‑week‑old Middle East conflict drives global oil prices higher, eroding the peso and inflating consumer costs. A temporary suspension of petroleum excise taxes will cut government revenue by roughly $2.5 billion, potentially...
Venture capital activity in the Philippines surged in 2025, with private‑capital funding rising about 34% year‑on‑year despite a regional downturn. Foxmont Capital Partners alone raised $1.5 billion, up from $960 million in 2023, and e‑commerce now accounts for 67% of the country’s...
EU foreign minister Kaja Kallas accused Russia of supplying Iran with intelligence that enables Tehran to target U.S. military assets in the Middle East. She said Russia also provides drones, facilitating attacks on neighboring states and American bases. The allegation...
The United States captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, prompting a hard‑power display that many Latin American analysts view as a game changer for regional geopolitics. The move reinforces U.S. coercive dominance while exposing China’s limited military reach,...
The first‑quarter 2026 Dallas Fed Energy Survey shows that exploration and production (E&P) companies are flagging the Iran‑Israel war as a major source of volatility. While a few firms note a temporary boost to oil prices and potential profit upside,...
Costa Rica’s colon surged to 465 per U.S. dollar, its strongest level since 2005, marking a 7% gain this year. The rally was driven by robust export growth and increased foreign investment. In response, the central bank intervened, purchasing roughly...
Tazapay announced the close of a $36 million Series B extension led by Circle Ventures, bringing total Series B funding to $36 million. The round added new investors CMT Digital and Coinbase Ventures alongside existing backers. The capital will fund licensing expansion, accelerate go‑to‑market...
India’s FY 2027 budget faces heightened pressure as the West Asia conflict drives global crude oil to $157 a barrel and natural‑gas prices to $22 per MMBtu, more than double pre‑crisis levels. Higher energy costs are expected to lift fertilizer and...
Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, led by Governor Yasir Al Rumayyan, reaffirmed its commitment to global investments despite the rising economic burden of the war with Iran. Al Rumayyan described the kingdom’s macroeconomic and physical position as strong, stable and resilient. He...
On February 12, 2026 Taiwan and the United States signed the Agreement on Reciprocal Trade (ART), eliminating tariffs on roughly 99 percent of bilateral goods and expanding market access across multiple sectors. Beyond tariff cuts, the pact embeds a security architecture...
Former U.S. diplomat Stephen Biegun says President Donald Trump will pursue an economic deal with China during his mid‑May visit to Beijing. The agenda is expected to focus on securing large‑scale Chinese purchases of American agricultural and manufacturing products. Biegun...
Land‑linked Zambia 2026 has secured participation from all six key SADC ports—Beira, Dar es Salaam, Durban, Lobito, Nacala and Walvis Bay—signaling a major push toward multimodal connectivity. Zambia’s goal of producing 3 million metric tonnes of copper by 2031 will place...
The article argues that recent calls for renewed U.S. trips to China overlook a crucial distinction: visiting China does not equal understanding it. While official delegations showcase polished factories and elite think‑tank briefings, they miss the everyday realities of ordinary...
A year after President Trump’s trade assault, Asian economies escaped tariff fallout thanks to market pressure and AI‑driven growth, but the Iran‑Israel war has reignited a severe energy shock. Goldman Sachs warns that soaring oil and LNG prices could derail...
At the Boao Forum for Asia, China’s top legislator Zhao Leji warned that power politics should give way to economic development amid the ongoing US‑Israeli war on Iran. He pledged that Beijing will keep promoting free trade, openness and a...
Asian equity markets slipped on Thursday as uncertainty over a de‑escalation of the Iran war weighed on investor sentiment, with the Nikkei down 0.3%, the Kospi off 1.9% and the Hang Seng falling 1.4%. Oil prices rebounded, lifting Brent crude...
China signaled that its door remains open for joint oil and gas development in the South China Sea, but it told Manila it must first demonstrate sincerity before talks can resume. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. linked the renewed interest to...
The Zambia Development Agency (ZDA) and global investor Imbono have signed a landmark MoU to channel large‑scale investment into Zambia’s priority sectors. Imbono pledged to invest roughly $2 billion annually across Southern Africa, with a substantial share earmarked for Zambia’s infrastructure,...
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/GettyImages-1081702848-021f38f7f0034905a972bb01eddf042f.jpg)
The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) entered into force in 2022, creating the world’s largest free‑trade bloc with 15 Asia‑Pacific economies. Together the members represent roughly 30% of global GDP and population, and the pact cuts tariffs across a broad...
Indonesia is seeing a surge in coal and crude palm oil (CPO) prices as the US‑Israeli war on Iran pushes oil to about $100 a barrel, prompting countries to seek cheaper coal and bio‑fuel alternatives. Newcastle coal futures have climbed...
Asian economies from India to South Korea are feeling a double squeeze as oil prices spike and the U.S. dollar reaches its strongest level against regional currencies in two decades. The war in the Middle East has choked the Strait...
Saudi Arabia has accelerated its push into Africa, pledging $41 bn of investment through Vision 2030 to diversify away from oil. The focus centers on logistics hubs like Djibouti, large‑scale renewable energy and desalination projects, and securing food and mineral supplies....
Emerging‑market corporate bonds are delivering yields well above U.S. benchmarks, and the WisdomTree Emerging Markets Corporate Bond Fund (EMCB) exemplifies this trend with a 5.07% SEC yield. The actively managed ETF holds a 3.97‑year effective duration, positioning it as an...
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced plans to deepen energy cooperation with Algeria during a visit to Algiers, aiming to increase LNG supplies to Italy. The move comes as Italy grapples with prolonged disruptions in Qatar LNG deliveries, which previously...
MEED and HKA are hosting a live webinar on 31 March 2026 to dissect Saudi Arabia’s accelerating gigaproject pipeline. The session will outline the $200 billion‑plus contract backlog across infrastructure, tourism, real‑estate and energy, and examine shifting financing models. Ed James...
Jack Ma, Alibaba founder, says Southeast Asia will eclipse China as the next global economic powerhouse. He cites China’s aging population, regulatory crackdowns, and real‑estate woes, contrasted with the region’s 680 million‑strong, youthful workforce and multilingual talent. Singapore serves as a...
